At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, work has been under way this week to set up the necessary ground support equipment for loading of the cryogenic hydrogen which will be used to supercool the infrared telescope during its six months of observations. The vacuum pumpdown of the spacecraft is now under way and will be followed by testing at cryogenic temperatures. This will be followed by two weeks of activity to load and then freeze the cryogenic hydrogen.

Build-up of the Delta II rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 now is scheduled to begin next week with hoisting of the first stage into the launcher on Monday. The three solid rocket boosters will then be attached on Oct. 21, and the second stage will be hoisted atop the first stage on Oct. 22.